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Notre Dame football: One offensive playmaker to worry about on each 2021 opponent

By Brad Weiss

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 07: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish gather in the tunnel before the game against the Clemson Tigers at Notre Dame Stadium on November 7, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 07: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish gather in the tunnel before the game against the Clemson Tigers at Notre Dame Stadium on November 7, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images) /
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Dec 19, 2020; Pasadena, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Austin Jones (20) gets by UCLA Bruins linebacker Kobey Fitzgerald (56) as he runs toward the goal line during overtime at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Once-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2020; Pasadena, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Austin Jones (20) gets by UCLA Bruins linebacker Kobey Fitzgerald (56) as he runs toward the goal line during overtime at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Once-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame football: Offensive star to worry about on each 2021 opponent

Game No. 12: Stanford, RB Austin Jones

In their final regular-season game, the Notre Dame football team will take on the Stanford Cardinal, a rival that they have had a lot of success against lately. Looking at the Cardinal offense, the whole thing runs through one man, and that man is running back Austin Jones, who is one of the better playmakers in the Pac-12.

In fact, outside of quarterbacks, Jones is the only member of the conference to be named to the Maxwell Award watch list for the 2021 season. Last season, Jones did a bit of everything for the Cardinals, racking up over 100 all-purpose yards per game, and finding the end zone nine times in only six games.

A Pac-12 honorable mention selection, Jones will be looking to build on those impressive numbers this fall, and if the Cardinal are to do anything in the Pac-12, they need every bit of his versatility. Over his last four games last season, Jones averaged over 110 yards per game, and if the Cardinal are to beat the Irish, he will need to do that and more.

Overall, a lot has been made of this Notre Dame football defense, and they will get the chance to prove themselves in each game this season. While some teams could be easy wins for the Irish, every team has a playmaker that Marcus Freeman is going to build his gameplan around, and these 12 are them.

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